Florida State Seminoles Vs. Oklahoma Sooners

January 3, 2001|CRAIG BARNES STAFF WRITER

OU RUNNING GAME VS. FSU RUN DEFENSE

Oklahoma averages 134.6 yards per game, up from 105.5 yards last season. FSU allows 73.9 yards per game, second in the nation. Sophomore Quentin Griffin is the primary OU runner in a pass-oriented offense. Often, the Sooners get space for Griffin by throwing him the ball on the move in what amounts to an extended handoff. The Sooners have become a team that passes to run, but they don't hesitate to take the run when it's there. The Seminoles' front grew stronger with each game. FSU DE Jamal Reynolds (15 tackles for losses of 77 yards) is capable of dominating a game, and his chances have improved as David Warren (19 tackles for losses of 71 yards) and Alonzo Jackson have become more effective at the other end. The interior linemen are young, but Darnell Dockett, with 19 tackles for loss (65 yards), is surging as are Jeff Womble and Kevin Emanuel. The Seminoles will put as many in the box as necessary to shut down the run. They want a one-dimensional game.

EDGE: Seminoles

OU PASSING GAME VS. FSU PASS DEFENSE

The Sooners average 294.7 yards per game, a slight reduction from last season' 321.7 yards. QB Josh Heupel, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, is left-handed, elusive and a playmaker. His most dangerous asset is the ability to buy time in the pocket and then deliver to open receivers, a quality that pressures defensive backs. Josh Norman is the perfect H-back, at 6-2, 231 pounds, and he gives the passing game flexibility. TE Trent Smith, the type player who has given the Seminoles trouble, had 29 catches for 310 yards and 3 TDs. Heupel has been sacked only 17 times while the Seminoles have 45 for 254 yards. The shotgun is the preferred operating formation. The quick release, cut-and-slash horizontal routes, reduce sack chances. Reynolds leads the way with 12 sacks. Warren has nine and Dockett seven. CB Tay Cody had a strong year with six interceptions, but Clevan Thomas was vulnerable at times. On third down, FSU opponents have converted just 48 of 191 passes (25 percent). If Heupel gets time, the Seminoles will have problems.

EDGE: Sooners

FSU RUNNING GAME VS. OU RUSH DEFENSE

The Seminoles are averaging 165 yards per game, and the Sooners are surrendering 108.7 per game. The running game has improved 42.2 yards per game over last season. The Seminoles have four games over 200 yards this season and one over 300 yards. The Sooners haven't allowed 200 yards on the ground in 20 straight games. Travis Minor will get most of the work and is a big-game player. The Sooners' ability to stop the run is built around play-making linebackers Rocky Calmus and Torrance Marshall. The front four can be attacked head-on, but ends Corey Callens and Corey Heinecke are solid players. SS Roy Williams provides run support. EDGE: Seminoles

FSU PASSING GAME VS. OU PASS DEFENSE

Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke runs the nation's top passing offense (384 yards per game) leading to the No. 1 total offense (549 yards per game). Weinke is a solid operative from the I-formation, making play action a weapon. From the shotgun, the Seminoles line up 3-4-5 wide receivers and throw it. Wide receivers Atrews Bell, Anquan Boldin, Robert Morgan and Javon Walker are dependable as is Talman Gardner, but they aren't Marvin Minnis, who emerged as a "go-to" guy but is academically ineligible. The Sooners allow 170.8 yards passing per game. They have 22 interceptions and have allowed nine TDs passes. CBs Derrick Strait, a freshman, and Michael Thompson are talented, but the big producer is FS J.T. Thatcher. He has eight INTs and 16 passes defended, both team highs. The blitz against Weinke hasn't worked, but the Sooners have used it. The Sooners play three and four deep against passing teams to test their patience, and they'll probably do it to Weinke as Florida did. EDGE: Seminoles

OU RETURN GAME VS. FSU KICK COVERAGE

It's nothing but speed. The Sooners average 20.6 yards on kickoffs and 15.4 yards on punts. The Seminoles allow 20.5 yards on kickoffs and 13.8 yards on punts. J.T. Thatcher is dangerous. He's the primary punt returner with 38 for an average of 15.8 yards per return and TDs of 66 and 60 yards. On kickoffs, Thatcher (11 for an average of 24 yards per return) and Antwone Savage (10 for an average of 19.3 yards per return) and the primary players. Both men are elusive and fast. Matt Munyon has gotten better at putting the ball in the end zone. Punter Keith Cottrell averages 41.3 yards for 48 punts with 14 inside the 20-yard line, eight fair caught and only six touchbacks. The biggest kicking issue is field goals and extra points. Brett Cimorelli has made 21 extra points and 6 of 7 field goals over the last four games.